Recent K-State Grad Featured in Esteemed Entomology Journal
Victoria Pickens
B.S. Entomology, Oklahoma State University ‘19
Ph.D. Entomology, Kansas State University ‘25
Victoria Pickens, a Ph.D. entomology graduate, was featured on the cover of the Journal of Medical Entomology for her research on bacteria and antimicrobials on house flies.
The article, titled, “Bacterial abundance and antimicrobial resistance prevalence carried by adult house flies (Diptera: Muscidae) at Kansas dairy and beef cattle operations,” was Pickens’ first authored publication.
“To be featured on the cover was pretty astounding,” she said. “It’s considered one of our most prestigious medical and veterinary entomology journals in the United States… Everybody is thrilled to have the honor.”
Pickens’ research revolved around the carriage of bacteria in confined cattle operations by house flies in Kansas. The team was invested in more than just determining the risk of bacterial pathogens to cattle; they wanted to see if the animals carried antimicrobial-resistant bacteria.
“We were interested in seeing if they may be a contributor to the rise in antibiotic resistance and bacteria we see for both human and animal health,” Pickens said. “The industry doesn’t have a good understanding of what antibiotic-resistant bacteria these flies are carrying in the first place. There have been studies, but those are lab-based, and we needed to get a general survey of what’s happening in a field setting.”
The research started in various facilities across Kansas to assess the kinds of bacteria that were being transferred by flies in feed yards.
“We worked with both beef cattle and dairy operations,” Pickens said. “One aspect we were looking at was to see what source of environmental drivers there might be to influence the amount of bacteria these flies were carrying… We also tried to see whether or not climate plays a role in how much bacteria the flies are carrying at these operations.”
Pickens said one of the biggest contributions her research has to Kansas beef and dairy producers is highlighting that flies are “really nasty,” as they often go unnoticed by many.
“We’re really starting to notice the potential implications there could be for impacts on animal health,” she said. “That might expand beyond simply trying to manage your biting flies. You might need to be looking at your non-biting flies as well to help protect animal health in the future.”
For Pickens, a key finding from the research was that house flies could be aiding the resistance of bacteria at the cattle facilities.
“In order for resistance to develop in these bacteria, they have to be able to share those genes,” she said. “A lot of different strategies trying to mitigate the development of antibiotic resistance focus on antibiotic usage in general, and environmental bacteria that will share genes once they’re being selected for.”
To read Pickens' publication, visit: https://academic.oup.com/jme/article-abstract/62/4/984/8117630?redirectedFrom=fulltext
Journal cover photo by Emily Sur, K-State entomology graduate student.